Sheet metal gas burner construction



Aug. 3, 1965 R. 1.. HUGHES 3,198,238

SHEET METAL GAS BURNER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 30. 1961 INVENTOR.

ROBERT L. HUGHES BY 2 g ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,198,238 SHEET METAL GAS BURNER CONSTRUCTIONRobert L. Hughes, West Covina, Caiif assignor to (Zarrier Corporation,Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 30, 1%1, Ser. No.121,615 1 Claim. (Cl. 158--1tl4) This invention relates broadly to gasburning equipment. More particularly, this invention pertains toconstructions used for the purpose of mixing gaseous fuel and air toform a combustible mixture to be supplied to apparatus such as furnacesdesigned to heat air for use in residential homes.

Equipment of the kind under consideration is used to blend a mixture ofair and a gaseous fuel to present a combustible product for ignition andfiow through a heat exchanger employed in a furnace for heating air.Burners of the kind under consideration utilize a mixing tube arrangedin conjunction with a nozzle for supplying the gaseous fuel so that theenergy in the gaseous fuel is used to induce a flow of air from theambient into the tube in proportions designed to provide a mixture ofthe kind desired.

This invention has, for its chief object, the construction of a gasburner of the kind described wherein the parts constituting the burnerare primarily sheet metal stampings that can be formed and assembledwith the use of simple machine techniques leading to the production of arelatively inexpensive gas burning unit.

A second object of the invention is the provision of a gas burning unitformed from structural parts which lend themselves to simple machineoperations, such as stamping and piercing and which may be made in highproduction quantity at relatively low cost.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a multi-unit gasburner constructed primarily of sheet metal stampings wherein novelmeans are included to provide lateral flow of an ignited combustiblemixture of the kind required to assure ignition of each of theindividual units of the burners under circumstances where a single pilotburner is employed.

A still funther object of the invention is the provision of a novelmethod of forming a multiple unit gas burner wherein adequate lateralflow of a portion of the output of a single burner is assured to provideignition to other burners in the unit.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of an improvedgas burner of the well known inshot or single port type wherein thecombustible gas-air mixture emanates from a single port in the burner.

These and other objects of the invention are attained through theprovision of a gas burner unit comprising a first plate member havingportions deformed from its plane and a second plate member having a likeconfiguration wherein the members are joined together with the planarportions of each in mutual engagement and the deformed portionsconfronting one another to provide passageways for the accommodation ofair-gas mixtures suitable for combustion.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent upon aconsideration of the ensuing specification and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a gas burner unitillustrating the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view in cross-section taken along lines II- IIof FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end view taken along lines III-III on FIGURE1, illustrating a feature of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the unit illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of the unit illustrating a step in thefabrication thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein a multiple unit gasburner assembly is shown in order to more effectively illustrate certainfeatures of the invention, it is contemplated that a gas burner assemblybe formed from a relatively inexpensive material such as a sheet steelby simple stamping and forming operations. In this regard, it is to benoted that a stamping 10 of sheet metal is cut to a form sufficient toprovide an assembly of three gas burning units. As pointed out above,the invention may be illustrated as it pertains .to a single gas burnerunit. However, certain features of the invention relate to a multiplegas burner unit and it is for this reason that such has been chosen asan embodiment for illustration. The sheet metal material is preferablycold rolled steel and has a thickness of about After the sheet metalplate or stamping 10 has been cut to size, it is subjected to aformingoperation with conventional punch and die equipment wherein one half ofthe gas burner construction is formed.

To this end, conventional punch and die equipment is employed to forcematerial upwardly from the plane of the plate 1% and provide adeformation including spaced sections 11 having a first portion 12extending inwardly of the edge of the sheet, provided with a constantcrosssection of a semi-circular configurationv The portion 12 isreferred to as the nozzle accommodating portion and surrounds a nozzle35 connected to the gaseous fuel supply for the purpose of deliveringgas under pressure to the burner.

Further, considering the deformation 11 of the plate in terms of theconfiguration of the portion thereof extending axially from portion 12,it will be observed that portion 14 resembles one half of a frustum of acone, note FIGURE 5. The succeeding portion 16 of the formed sheet,forms one half of a venturi-type configuration. Section 18 is integrallyconnected to section 16, forming a transition from the venturi-shapedsection 16 to a section 24) of constant semi-circular cross-sectionextending .to the edge of the plate. Section 18' extends betweenadjacent units and connects adjacent sections 18 in the manner shown inFIGURE 1. Section 22 connects adjacent sections 20 and is elevated onlyslightly above the plane of the plate 10.

Once the deformation described has been accomplished the plate 10 issubjected to a piercing and trimming operation for the purpose offorming openings 24 in sections 14 and removing the portions of section22 indicated in FIGURE 1. Openings '24 provide passages for the flow, byinduction, of primary air to the gas supplied through nozzle 36.

In order to form the assembly illustrated, one of the plates 10, formed,pierced and trimmed in the manner described, is superimposed over asecond plate 16, also formed, pierced and trimmed in the mannerdescribed with the undersurface of each in contact with the undersurfaceof the other so that the flat sections adjacent each burner are incontact with one another. The plates 10 are then welded, preferably atthe points indicated by reference numeral 28 so as to provide anassembly defining three symmetrical passageway-s it), each similar inshape, for the flow of a gas-air mixture to the edge 30 of the platewhere a suitable pilot burner 31 is located. To complete the assembly aflame retainer member 32 having a cylindrical body 32' and integrallyformed circumferentially spaced radially extending ribs 34 is insertedin the part of the passageway defined by confronting sections 20. Ifdesired, the outer edges 30 may be rolled in to assist in the retentionof member 32 in the assembly. Thus gas-air mixtures flow through theopen- Patented Aug. 3, 1965.

ing defined by the inner surface of flame retainer 32 and the openingsdefined by ribs 34 and the plate members.

In tthe opening 35, defined by the confronting sections 22, there isprovided a flat insert 36 arranged, as shown in FIGURE 3, between tworibs 34 to provide two separate lateral paths between retainers 32assembled in adjacent burners. The sections 22 are deformed asillustrated by dimples 33 to secure the inserts against relativemovement in relation to the plates 18 as well as retainer members 32.With the construction described, suitable lateral paths are provided forthe purpose of assuring ignition of gas-air mixtures flowing throughburners remote from pilot burner 31.

With the construction described there is provided a single port burnerassembly having satisfactory primary air supply and lateral paths forflow of gas-air mixtures to meet any carry-over requirement imposed onburner constructions. The flame retainer 32 functions to assurefavorable flame propagation by preventing flash-back and preventingflame lift-011, that is the tendency of the portion of the flameemanating from the main burner port to flow radially from the burner, inthe manner known to those skilled in the art. The constructionillustrated may be employed to provide a single burner (in which caseinserts 36 would be unnnecessary) or any number of burners. The burnerassembly may be mounted, to project horizontally, into a heat exchangerwith conventional fastening means.

Considering the operation of the burner, valve means, not shown, aresituated to supply gas under pressu-re from a source such as a municipalgas main to the burner through the nozzle 36. The flow of high velocitygas from the nozzle induces primary air to mix therewith throughopenings 24. The resulting mixture flows through the passageway 40 andis ignited by the pilot burner in the conventional manner. Secondary airis induced by the flame to blend with the gas-primary air mixture toprovide desirable flame characteristics. Ignition of gas-air mixtures inburners remote from the pilot is accomplished by lateral flow of ignitedgas-air mixtures from the burner served by the pilot.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention it will beunderstood the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwiseembodied within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A gas burner comprising a first plate member having spaced portionsextending across the width thereof and deformed outwardly thereof, saidfirst plate member having an additional portion deformed outwardlythereof, said additional portion communicating with the spaced portionsextending across the width thereof, a second plate member deformed inthe same manner as the first plate, said plate members being united withthe planar areas of each in mutual engagement and the deformed portionsconfronting one another to form passageways extending the width of themembers and connected by a cross passage of a configuration determinedby the deformation, flame retention members arranged in saidpassageways, and an insert positioned in said cross passage, portions ofthe plates defining the cross passage being depressed into tightintimate engagement with said insert to prevent relative movementbetween the plate and the insert.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,278,037 9/18Shanklin 158-106 1,942,397 1/34 Cuyler 158-115 X 2,309,469 1/43 Marcuse29-428 2,469,499 5/49 Dresen 158-116 X 2,533,143 12/50 Scharbau et al.158-104 2,537,542 1/51 Norman 158-116 2,782,842 2/57 Halfmann et al158-116 2,875,820 3/59 Nesbitt 158-115 2,884,998 5/59 Taylor 158-1162,949,667 8/60 Cameron et al. 29-428 3,002,552 10/61 Griffln 158-1163,099,312 7/63 Radley et al. 158-106 JAMES W. WESTHAVER, PrimaryExaminer.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, 1a., MEYER PERLIN,

Examiners.

